Steam engine



Dec. 9,

1,518,438 E. w. LINDLEY STEAM ENGINE Filed Sept. 20, 1920 2 Sheets-Shet 1 5 4 a f -q 5 1: l5 7 J I 1 l5 l8 34 O a I; 9 55 /2 30 /Q9 4 I /9 .ll i l 6 53 Z! -Li INVENTOR,

BY Wm M #4; ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1924. 1,518,438

E W. LINDLEY STEAM ENGINE Filed Sept. 20, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 10 4 q- 'INVENTORI 4; ATTofz-N EY Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT 1,518,4lii

FICE.

ERNEST W. LINDLEY, NEAR DAYTON, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T WALTER M. OSTERDAY, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

STEAM ENGINE.

Application filed September 20, 1920. Serial No. 411,405.

To all 720m it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST V. LINDLEY,

a citizen of tlie'United States, residing in the county of Montgomery, near the city of 5 Dayton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Engines, of which the following is a specification. v

The principal object of my invention is 1 to provide a self-contained steam engine that is simple in construction, neat and compact in appearance and efficient in operation.

In it the number of parts is reduced to the minimum by the elimination of eccentrics, connecting rods, springs and other elements that are common in other types of steam engines.

My improved steam engine has a positive thrust that develops full power at all times. It may be made up of any number of cylinder units or blocks to which steam is introduced through a manifold. It is thus possible to readily increase the power developed by the engine, by admitting steam to additional blocks, or to decrease that power by cutting out one or more blocks.

The moving parts of the engine are self contained, with little or nothing to get out of order. It is well adapted for airplane propulsion, since it is a light weight motor and one that occupies but a small amount of space.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my steam engine, with the pistons on one side removed. Figure 2 is a plan view of the pistons and the cam frame mechanism connect-ed thereto. Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken through one of the cylinders on the line c4-a of Figure 1. Figure 4. is a "view, partly in section, taken on the line Z2b of Figure 2, showing the cam mechanism. Figure 5 is an end view of the valve. Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through said valve on the line 00 of Figure 5.

5 Figure 7 is a top view of my engine made up of several cylinder units. Figure 8 is a side view of the fly-wheel side of the engine. Figure 9 is aview of the other side of said engine. Figure 10 is an end view thereof. An Fig i a P n view of he Pistons tion 9.

and cam and disc mechanism, showing the cam that is secured to thedisc, at one side of the cam frame.

' Throughout the specification and drawmgs, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts.

Referring to Figure 1, the numerals 1 and 2 designate two elongated cylinder blocks that are disposed in parallel alinement and oined together by steam inlet tubes 3 and 4; and exhaust conduits 5 and 6. Any other means for connecting these cylinder blocks may be employed if desired.

Each of the blocks 1 and 2 has two preferably square prismatic ends 7 and 8 connected by an integral recessed middle por- Set in each prismatic end of a cylinder block is acylinder 10 closed at its rear end by a detachable head plate 11. Movable within each cylinder 10 is a piston 12, the front end of which, on its outward movement, is adapted to project well into the recessed portion 9 of the block. The pistons 12, 12 of each block are connected by an elongated member 13. (See Figures 1, 2 and 11.)

Near the outer end of each prism portion 7 and 8, is an annular partition 14 which divides the space between the wall of the cylinder and the wall of the prismatic member into two parts. Communicating with the space 15 in front of the partition 14 of a prismatic end of a cylinder block on one side of the engine, is a branch 16 of an intake manifold 17. This space 15 is connected with the space 15 of the adjacent prismatic end 8 by the tube 4, while the latter space is connected to the space 15 of the prismatic end 7 of the same block by an elongated tube 18, the steam then passing to the space 15 of the adjacent prismatic member 8 throughthe tube (See Fig ure 1.) Through. circumferential slots 1 9 provided in each cylinder 10, the steam. passes from the space 15 to the interior of: the cylinder behind the piston 12 for the purpose of moving it. (See Figures 1 and I Provided in the cylinder 10 to the rear of the annular partition 14, are circumferential slots 20 through which the spent steam exhausts in a space 21 between the cylinder and the enclosing wall of the prismatic end of the block. These spaces 21 of the adjoining prismatic portions of the o k e con.-

nected by the exhaust conduits o and 6, while the spaces 21 in the prismatic ends of one block are connected by an elongated tube 22, the exhaust steam finally passing into a branch 23 of an exhaust manifold 24. (See Figures 1 and 10.)

For the purpose of alternately opening and closing the slots or ports 19 and 20 in each cylinder, the following valve mechanism is provided. Referring 'to Figures 1, and 6, there projects loosely through a hole provided in the rear end of each piston 12, an elongated screw 25 whose head 26 is broader than said hole, whereby, when the piston moves outwardly, it will, at a certain point in its travel, draw the screw outwardly for the following purpose. The rear end of said screw has a tight fit within a hole in the middle portion of a diametric web 27 in a cylindrical valve 28 movable in the rear end of the cylinder 10. The screw 25 is prevented from being pulled out of said web by a nut 29 on the rear end of the screw.

Just before the piston 12 starts its outward movement, the valve 28 has the position shown in the upper right hand cylind 1" in Figure 1; that is, a position wherein it closes the exhaust ports in said cylinder and clears the inlet ports 19 therein to admit steam thereto for the purpose of forcing the piston forwardly. Just before the piston 12 reaches the limit of its forward movement, its rear end will engage the head 26 of the screw to draw the valve 28 forwardly a sufficient distance to clear the exhaust ports 20 and close with its periphery, the inlet ports 19. Therefore, on its rearward movement, the piston 12 will force the exhaust steam through the openings in the valve between its web portion and outer wall, and then out into the space 21 througl'i the exhaust ports 20, said steam then being carried to the exhaustmanifold 23 in the manner before described. Just before the piston 12 reaches the end of its inward movement, it will engage the valve 28 to move it rearwardly a suilicient distance to cover the exhaust ports 20 and clear the inlet ports 19, through which steam may now be admitted to the interior of the cylinder 10 to force the piston forwardly again.

(See Figures 1, 5 and 6.)

Nhen the pistons 12 are reciprocated, they are adapted to rotate, through the following simple cam means, a power shaft 30 on which a fly-wheel 31 is mounted. Fast- 011 the shaft 30 is a disc 32 and a crank arm 33 for each cylinder unit. Each disc and crank arm are spaced a sufficient distance apart on the shaft 30 to permit the free sliding movement between them of a cam 34 and a cam frame (See Figures 2-, a and. 11.) The cam 3 1', which is an oblong member with straight sides and curved ends, is loosely mounted on a pin 3O which projects through oppositely disposed holes in the disc 32 and crank arm 33. The cam frame 35, which consists of a member having four radial slotted arms projecting outwardly at right angles to each other, from ahollow center, has two of its alined arms secured at their outer ends to the connecting members 13, 13 of the oppositely disposed pistons 12. (See Figures 4 and 11.) The follower 3%, which is pivotally connected bet-ween the disc 32 and the crank arm 33, is adapted to slide from the end of the slot in one arm that is connected to one set of pistons, through the hollow center of the cam frame 35, into and longitudinally through the slot in the alined arm that is connected to the other set of pistons. The other two arms of the cam frame 35 are adapted to slide back and forth over the power shaft 30, the shaft being in the slot of one arm when the cam passes from one arm to the other in its travel, so as not to collide with the latter. Now when the pistons are reciprocated, the follower 3 1, not being permitted a straight line movement with them because of its attachment to the crank arm 33 and disc 32, will be longitudinally forced through its two slotted arms of the cam frame 35 to turn said crank arm and disc and through them the shaft 30 on which they are mounted. When said cam reaches the end of the opposite arm of the cam frame, it will immediately be forced in a. reverse direction to the end of the other arm, never being on a dead center and continuously rotating the shaft on full power at all times. With this construction, eccentrics, connecting rods, springs and other elements are eliminated, making the drive for the shaft a simple, positive and compact one.

My improved steam engine may-be constructed of any number of cylinder units to give the. power desired, one of three units being shown in the drawings. (See Figures 7 and 10.) These units are capable of being compactly assembled so as to take up but a minimum of space, and are adapted to be supplied with steam. from a single mani fold controlled by a throttle valve.

My improved steam engine is also one in which, at the completion of the stroke of a piston, the exhaust valve is immediately opened wide,.thus eliminating back pressure i so common in the present types of motors, The shaft is also constructed of one solid. piece that is not cut out, as in the case of ordinary crankshafts, thus eliminating vibration. i

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, the combination with a cylinder, of a housing for said cylinder, a partition dividing the space between said cylinder and housing into ill) an inlet chamber and an exhaust chamber, ports provided in the cylinder wall communicating with the inlet chamber and the exhaust chamber, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, and a cylindrical valve in said cylinder adapted to be moved by the piston to open and close said ports for the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination with a cylinder, of a housing for said cylinder, a partition dividing the space between said cylinder and housing into a steam inlet chamber and a steam exhaust chamber, ports provided in the cylinder wall communicating with the inlet chamber and the exhaust chamber, a cylindrical valve in said cylinder behind the piston, adapted to be forced rearwardly by the latter to close the exhaust port and open the inlet port, and means connected between said piston and cylindrical valve whereby, when the piston nears the end of its power stroke, it will draw said valve forwardly to close the inlet port and open the exhaust ort.

p 3. In a device of the type described, the combination with a cylinder, of a housing for said cylinder, a partition dividing the space between said cylinder and housing into a steam inlet chamber and a steam exhaust chamber, ports provided in the cylinder wall communicating with the inlet wardly a sufficient distance to close the inlet port and open the exhaust port.

4. In a device of the type described, the combination with a cylinder, of a housing for said cylinder, a partition dividing the space between said cylinder and housing into 5 an inlet and an exhaust chamber, a port provided in the cylinder wall for each chamber. a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, and a cylindrical valve in said cylinder behind the piston, adapted to be moved forward by the latter near the end of its power stroke, to uncover the exhaust port and cover the inlet port in the cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of September, 1920.

ERNEST W. LINDLEY. Witness:

HOWARD S. SMITH. 

